When I joined the DT I decided I needed a note book to keep all my ribbony ideas in and to record what projects needed to be in on what date - I'm the Queen of notebooks and lists. :)

I had so much fun picking out which ribbons I would use. In the end I decided to do the front in a rainbow of colours and the back in black and white.

I took the plastic covers off a notepad. I had originally planned to cover them but the ribbon would not hold to the plastic no matter which glue I tried. I then simply stuck lengths of ribbon to the inner cover. I turned the page over and folded the ribbons over and stuck them down. To make it a bit more durable I covered the ends with a wide piece of grosgrain.

To provide a bit more protection and to replace the plastic cover that I had discarded I laminated an empty pouch. I cut around the plastic cover, rounded the corners and marked where the holes needed to be for the spine. I used my eyelet punch to cut them out. The slipped them back on to the spiral spine.

I can't possibly list all the ribbons I have used but they are all available here. If you have any questions or can't find them on the site just leave me a comment and I'll help you out.

I'm so pleased with this. I can see myself making more of these for gifts. The only thing I would do differently is not use the lilac and neon ribbon. It is a slightly different texture and the glue seeped through a little but I still love it!

Wednesday, 28 November 2012

Time to share some news with you all... Over on the Crafty Ribbons Inspiration blog we are having another fabulous event. This time we are doing a Christmas Advent event which we run from 1st December through to 24th December.

Each day we will be highlighting a different craft company or shop. The design team will be posting cards and projects on the Inspiration blog as well as on their own blogs. Each day there will be a prize from the highlighted company up for grabs - that's 24 prizes in total and you can enter each day (only one entry per person per day) Make sure you pop over here to become a follower.

Christmas Advent will start at 8.30 am GMT on the 1st December. The design team hope you will all join in the fun and count down to Christmas with us!

To kick off the event we are offering a prize of some fabulous ribbon...

If you would like to in with the chance of winning these amazing ribbons all you need to do is pop over to Crafty Ribbons Inspiration blog and check out the post about our Advent event.

Now, I said I was going to celebrate my 100th post but it passed without any big hoo-haa. I decided instead I would mark 111 and that is today's post. I think 111 is quite an achievement for me - I honestly didn't think I'd get this far, or find as many blogs to follow, or find so many posts to inspire me, or enjoy blogging so much. And I like that this post has fallen on a Wednesday because I love WOYWW posts and all the snooping that goes with them!

So here is today's desk pic for WOYWW. What a mess! Nothing much being made still, other than lists... I've written lots of lists about what needs to be done! Loveliness from Ali, a box to be decorated (can't show you what's inside yet...), swarovski crystals, photos, water pots...

And also a little pile of goodies... it is my 111 giveaway gift. Want to see?

I will pick a winner from the comments left on this post on the 11th of December. It's the normal rules that you see all over the blogosphere...

1. Rule number one is usually 'be a follower of this blog' - I suppose actually you don't have to be a follower... It'd be nice if you wanted to follow... If you don't follow you will need to remember to check back to see if you have won
2. Mention this on your blog - in a post or in the side bar - spread the word
3. Leave a comment on this post - I think it's fair to choose randomly one name out of a hat but if your comment makes me smile you will get your name put in the hat twice :)

I'm off to look at other peoples desks now...
Another post coming later with some ribbony news...
Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

I am part of Sue's RAK group and today I received a little parcel from Ali. Such a beautiful card - I collect teddy bears so it's very appropriate for me! And a little note pad in a holder - I am the queen of lists so again, very appropriate for me. Thanks Ali :)

Rubbish photo, the light is awful today. This is the fourth attempt!!

And just a little something I made...

I fallen in love with this lace. It is so pretty. I wanted to try and make some hair accessories including it. This is a small clip about 3cm long, lace sewn in to a circle and topped with a vintage button from my Granma's button box.

Slightly messy on the back but who sees the back?!

I really want to make more now... maybe try to attach them to grips (bobby pins) instead of a clip.

Wednesday, 21 November 2012

I didn't make it last week but I'm determined to join in again his week! Hop over to Julia's to see a bucket load of creative desks. Most won't be as messy as mine but hey ho!

At the moment I have enough energy for ideas but not for making said ideas, so there are lots of notebooks, lists and half-mades on my desk and bed. It's times likes this I'm so very grateful to have a desk that is not used for other things. I can at least keep things out so if energy arrives I can do even two minutes of crafting without having to get out and put away as well.

Sunday, 18 November 2012

I've been playing with Christmas ribbons from Crafty Ribbons. You know when you just sit there touching them, running them through your fingers, twisting and pleating in different ways to encourage ideas?

Suddenly my small green friend flew over...

Billy wanted to play too! She had a good old beak around and then claimed them as her own.

Thursday, 15 November 2012

I stamped the nursery rhyme in a band across a white 12 by 12. Some were first impressions and some were second impressions to give variations in the intensity of the colour.

I journalled on strips edged in grey ink and outlined with fine liner. I used the gorgeous star ribbon from the Snowmen Christmas collection. I love the fact that you can use Christmas ribbon on a totally un-Christmassy layout.

I had planned to use a label from a pair of pyjamas here but it disappeared from my desk. Vanished. I looked everywhere but to no avail. So I made a little pocket from organza ribbon and popped in some stars.

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The stars move around a bit like a shaker card. The buttons are a mixture from here and here.

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

This is so up my street! I love green and I've been wanting to use this ribbon chevron idea for a while now. I had tied a bow and (because I'm a perfectionist) I trimmed the tail to the same length as the other tail and this produced a chevron. Magic.

I started with the photo of my Billy girl. I added some buttons from my green button box. A few snippets of green and white card and tissue. A tag. And spread the chevrons around the page. I didn't want to journal. I know I need to learn to but not this time. So I just added a simple foam sticker title - Billy.

I'm really pleased with how the chevrons turned out. What do you think? And does the page need journalling?

Sunday, 11 November 2012

I normally craft alone. I have never crafted with a friend before. Until now.

My friend keeps on telling me about Pinterest, and I keep saying 'I can't go on Pinterest because I will spend waaay too much time there!' Last time I saw her she told me about this idea: Oil pastels, heat gun, canvas, dripping rainbow. I said 'try it' and got my pastels out!

I think she was a bit surprised as she just came for a chat not to work! Annoyingly she doesn't think she is creative. She very definitely is. She picked her colours and was away. I couldn't bear to just watch and not join in :) She graciously let me have a go at the pinks.

The angle the canvas was tipped to get the drip effect left these little nubbins at the bottom. It's like the canvas has feet! The only problem was the teal-y coloured pastel didn't melt smoothly like the others, it left a grainy finish. Other than that it was fab.

The technique is very simple. Prop a canvas at a slight angle. Hold two or three coloured oil pastels at the top of the canvas. Point heat gun at the pastels (switched on!!) being careful not to burn your hand. As they melt they mix a little and dribble down the canvas. I've played since this canvas and they melt 3-4 times before 'turning' and becoming less smooth and shiny. So you can re-melt a drip if you don't like it. I recommend having a go - it is fun and messy - what more could you want?!

Everything I say on this blog is my personal opinion. I do receive free supplies from Crafty Ribbons and SpiegelMom Scraps as a member of their Design Teams. I only recommend and rave about products I love.